Teaching respect in schools

AS part of the State Government’s roll out of the Respectful Relationships program, non-government schools are being invited to express interest in including the instruction their curriculum.

The program aims to support schools embed respect and gender equality in the classroom, playground, staffroom, and in the broader community.

While a range of Ballarat’s own religious and independent schools have signed up, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the new push will hopefully enable more institutions to get involved.

“Funding is available for any non-government school that is interested in expressing interest and I encourage them to do so,” she said.

“The program commences at the foundation or prep level and goes all the way through to year 10 and is a part of the health and PE program at schools, so very much looking at student wellbeing.

“There’s a lot about people understanding their emotions, particularly at a younger age, right up to our year 10 classes that talk about sexual relationships and the important issue of consent.”

Implementing one of the key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence, all government schools and 309 non-government schools across the state currently utilise the program to promote respect and anti-violent behaviours.

“We know the issue of respect is at the centre of relationships,” Ms Addison said. “In Victoria we have significant issues of family violence so it’s about talking to children from a young age.”

In addition, the Minister for Education and Acting Premier James Merlino also recently announced that the teaching of consent will be mandatory in all government schools.

“We are leading the nation through our Respectful Relationships program that goes directly to the issue of consent,” he said.

“There are no excuses for any school not rolling out a program like this. It is proven to make a real difference and is a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.”